Chapter 1: Introduction to Criminal Justice Careers and Internships

Internship and Career Pathways

• Opportunities for Criminal Justice (CJ) Majors

  • Many students pursuing a double major in CJ and other fields.

  • Strong relationships established with law enforcement agencies at local, state, and federal levels.

  • Internship Control: For many agencies, the university has control over who receives internships due to strong partnerships and trust in their background checks, interviews, and recommendations.

  • FBI Exception: The FBI has its own internship process; applicants are advised to apply early as government processes move slowly (e.g., apply now for next summer's internship).

• Internships Lead to Jobs

  • The internship process is highly effective, with $90$ to $100 ext{ percent}$ of hires over the last five years originating from the university's intern pool for many sponsor agencies.

  • Policy Changes: Local and state agencies now make exceptions for these interns, allowing them to apply $90$ days before graduation and start work almost immediately after crossing the stage.

  • Reduced Time to Employment: This significantly shortens the average time between graduation and securing a first job, which is typically around $6$ months.

  • Real-World Application: Internships serve as an opportunity to demonstrate the practical value of one's education.

Diverse Fields and Real-World Examples

• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

  • Focus areas include human trafficking, sex trafficking, and child pornography.

  • Described as